: by a great stroke of luck L. Minucius Basilus came upon Amborix in the Ardennes, off guard and unprepared, but luck also allowed Ambiorix to escape with every means of resistance and flight apparently cut off. Caesar comments (6.30.2): multum cum in omnibus rebus tum in re militari potest fortuna; BG 6.35.2: the unexpected appearance of the Sugambri at Cicero’s camp and the plan to injure Ambiorix that backfired (BG 6.42.3). It is not generally accepted that by fortuna Caesar means simply luck. See Fowler, CR 17 (1903) 153–156; Ericsson, Eranos 42 (1944) 57–69; Brutscher, MH 15 (1958) 73–83.
37. Kraner in his 1853 edition of the BG pointed out that by hominis Caesar was thinking of a Roman commonplace, the antithesis between human wisdom and luck, namely., "man proposes, god disposes." The observation is restated with examples by Foster in CJ 13 (1917) 277–281.
38. Cic. Imp. Pomp. 47–48.
39. The winter was not yet over, and Labienus was still in winter quarters (BG 6.3.1). His engagement with the Treveri was known at Rome before the beginning of March, when Cicero referred to it in a letter to Trebatius (Fam. 7.13.2).
40. Rambaud, 298.
41. But in giving credit to the troops Caesar creates an impossible situation. According to BG 3.14.5, the hooks attached to long poles, the implements responsible for victory, were praeparata a nostris. Brutus who, we are told (BG 3.14.3) was without a plan of his own, apparently had no inkling of their presence on the ships. But he did know the strengths of the Venetian ships (3.14.4) from the Gauls in his fleet (3.11.5). The latter probably were unfamiliar with rowed vessels, if the ignorance of the Britons who traded with the Gauls along the Channel coast is an indication (4.25.1). It is unlikely that the Gauls thought of a device which utilized the thrust of oars. If it was invented by the Romans, discipline being what it was, it was impossible that no one in command knew of it. See also Rambaud, 300.
42. Jullian, 3.409–410; Kraner-Dittenberger ad BG 6.44.3 and 7.5.3.